October 2013

October 29, 2013

FORT WORTH -- State Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, talked about the role of farmers and ranchers in Texas -- and the need for better water infrastructure -- Tuesday during the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board meeting at the Omni Hotel downtown.

"For people who work hard every day to make an honest living, including our farmers and ranchers, we have to make sure that government is smarter, and that it's working for you, not against you," Davis said. "Texas is the greatest state in this country, capable of leading the nation in medical and research science, in technology, in oil and gas production, in education and in agriculture.

"Politicians in Austin didn't build our state up to what it is today," she said. "That role falls to the hardworking Texans I meet every day."

Davis will be on the ballot next year as a Democratic gubernatorial candidate. She will face, among others, the winner of the Republican primary, which currently pits Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott against former Texas Republican Party Chairman Tom Pauken.

She noted Tuesday that when she cast a ballot early on Monday, she supported Proposition 6, which is geared to improve the state's water plan, on the current ballot.

October 22, 2013

FORT WORTH -- U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz visited with local business owners Tuesday afternoon, trying to find out what their biggest problems and challenges are.

The answer was simple, he said.

"Obamacare is the biggest job killer in the country," Cruz said during a brief media availability at the Fort Worth Club, after a Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce small business roundtable discussion wrapped up.

Cruz drew national attention earlier this year after a more than 21-hour speech in the Senate about why the nation's healthcare law needs to be defunded and for his efforts to link funding the federal government to defunding the healthcare law.

Some top Republicans have criticized his efforts; at least one online threat has been made against him.

But Cruz said the response he has received from Texans has been supportive.

"Throughout it all, the encouragement I have received from Texans all over our great state -- the prayers, the words of encouragement and support -- has been extraordinary," he said.

And he plans to keep fighting, and seeking ways to defund the Affordable Care Act.

"In this first round, the deal that came out was a lousy deal ... selling the American people down the river, providing no meaningful relief," he said. "Yet I'm encouraged. We saw millions of Americans rise up.

"The path to stopping harms from Obamacare ... is continuing to empower the American people."

October 21, 2013

Fort Worth's Lorraine Miller, a long-time aide to top Washington Democrats and the nation's first African American Clerk of the House, was named today the interim president and c.e.o. of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, (NAACP.) Ben Jealous, the current president, announced last month that he was stepping down after five years to spend more time with his family.

Miller, who divides her time between Washington and Fort Worth, first came to Washington to work for her local congressman, U.S. Rep. Jim Wright, D-Fort Worth. Wright rose to become speaker and Miller worked in the House and then in the Clinton Administration before returning to work for Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who, as speaker in 2007, named Miller Clerk of the House. Miller stayed in the position until the GOP re-took control of the U.S. House in 2011.

“Lorraine Miller is a trailblazing leader who has served our country with distinction as the first African-American Clerk of the House of Representatives, and she will do an outstanding job leading the NAACP as its interim President and CEO," said House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer of Md. in a statement. "I have known Lorraine for years and have worked with her in her capacity both as Clerk of the House and as President of the Washington D.C. chapter of the NAACP. Lorraine’s experience serving as a congressional aide – including to Civil Rights hero John Lewis – as an officer of the House, and as a respected community leader will enhance the office of the NAACP President and CEO during her tenure. ”

October 02, 2013

In what U.S. Rep. Roger Williams, R-Austin, described as an act of vandalism, unknown mischief-makers hung tea bags from the ceiling in the hallway outside his office and plastered his Cleburne office door with derogatory comments.

The signs, which said "We've had enough tea, thanks," then had hand-written comments like "anti-American racist" and "Douchebag Republicans." The congressman's office said that the signs were marked as being the property of Moveon.org.

A visibly upset Williams took to the House floor during the one-minutes and spoke against the defacing incident.

In a statement, Williams said, “Hundreds of thousands of Americans are deeply affected by the government shutdown, and I’m working with my colleagues in the House to get the government running again. With so much uncertainty, I understand that tensions are high, but this type of behavior cannot and will not be tolerated. Not by anyone. Throughout the shutdown, my offices’ phone lines are open and ready to take constituent calls. There is no room for shameful displays like this.”